Winters
in Johannesburg are usually mild, with a few cold spells dropping the mercury
to below zero on only a few days during the year. These cold spells are often
the result of cold fronts pushing in from the south into the Western Cape,
which has a winter rainfall season, and then driving the cold front into the
interior.
While
temperatures may plummet, Johannesburg rarely experiences snow. On Tuesday this
week, frosty clouds rapidly moved in and those living in southern Gauteng –
Vereeniging and Meyerton – woke up to snow-covered gardens. A few hours later,
snow hit many parts of Johannesburg. Edenvale, on the East Rand, experienced a
fair amount of snow, turning gardens into a winter wonderland. In other parts,
it was more sleet than actual snow, but many people stopped work and took time
out to build a snowman...or two. Within hours the snow had vanished and
half-melted snowmen slowly vanishing back into obscurity.
The
last time Johannesburg experienced a decent level of snowfall was almost 31
years ago...on the 10th September 1981, to be precise. This caught
everyone off guard, as it is generally the height of spring at that time of the
year. Non-the-less, the snow-deprived citizens ceased the opportunity and snowmen
once again populated the landscape. With climate change the focus of
environmentalists across the globe, will these snowfalls become more frequent
in years to come?
The best places
to experience snow in South Africa
The
Drakensberg Mountain range spanning the country of Lesotho and the neighbouring
South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and the Eastern Cape is
the best place to experience snow in winter, but be warned, many roads may be
closed when conditions are severe. Places like Clarens and Golden Gate in the
eastern Free State have tourist-friendly amenities and a good destination for
snow-seekers.
There
was also a ski resort in the Drakensberg called Tiffendell Ski Resort. It was
recently bought on an auction by businessman and skier Lew Campbell, who plans
to renovate the buildings and have it reopened by the 2013 winter season.
Parts
of the Cape Fold Mountains and interior Karoo also experience snowfall and
freezing temperatures.
Article
by Warren Schmidt www.wrsphotographic.com
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